We need a new map!

[michigan girls]

Given the vast amount of info I've gotten from this site over the last few years, there's one thing that we be a super big help. I love the villa maps and restaurant maps that people have made using google maps. How about a beach/snorkel map. For example - A lot of us have no clue where one would park along the East End road if you wanted to snorkel Princess Bay. Same thing with Haulover or the Brown Bay trail. Sure I've read the instructions millions of times, and I have all the books, but I'm a visual person.

It would be nice to be able to point to this map for newbies if, for example, you were encouraging them to try out Jumbie beach - which generally doesn't appear on any of the available maps.

I would start it myself, but I have to admit ignorance on how to do it - any takers?

[lprof]

Not exactly want you requested, but some of this might help.

http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/v ... =1&t=25805

http://www.seestjohn.com/beaches.html

This is not the correct link...
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=maps+st+ ... CAoQ_AUoAg
This is the map for St John, USVI:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=20 ... d3c3&msa=0

Maybe when Anthony gets back to work, he can put some of this together...

[shoemak38]

the st john map is a little north

Snagit Capture by SHOEMAK38, on Flickr

[michigan girls]

I do recall that thread, and taking notes for my St John notebook based on it - I was just hoping for something more visual.

The St John map is Canada - a little too chilly for me

I was hoping to do some East End snorkeling this next trip, and a map showing where to park would be awesome...

[lprof]

Google and I are not friendly lately. So Sorry! Also sorry there are no parking spots on the map. Go for the adventure???

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=20 ... d3c3&msa=0

[michigan girls]

Thats a lot closer to what I was looking for, but it does have some holes (Gibney for example)

I was just thinking that with all the awesome knowledge here, and with the pretty good aerial images available these days it would be pretty easy to pinpoint the parking spaces, etc. Of course, not knowing how to do it, I may be wrong on how easy it would be.

[NC Brenda]

I'm also very visual when it comes to directions. We find it extremely helpful to keep copies of Feet Fins and Off the Beaten Track with us at all times. They give great detailed directions to the less frequented spots, including Jumbie, Princess (although I was too freaked out to snorkel the mangroves), Brown Bay hike parking, shortcut to Margaret Hill overlook, etc.

Our favorite find on our last trip was the spot to enter directly in front of Pelican Rock (Long Bay maybe?) Great snorkel, and no one else on the beach!

[michigan girls]

Our favorite find on our last trip was the spot to enter directly in front of Pelican Rock (Long Bay maybe?) Great snorkel, and no one else on the beach!

See, that's exactly what I'm talking about.

I keep both those books with me all the time as well, but I would love a well put together map that I could print out and laminate. Maybe one page with the overall map and several more pages zoomed in for details. I know that once I've been to a place on St John, even something as small as a parking place, I can generally pick it out on an aerial map pretty easily. Surely I can't be the only one like that.

[michigan girls]

(although I was too freaked out to snorkel the mangroves)

And FYI - I didn't want to snorkel the mangroves either, the thought of it freaked me out. Then, a couple years ago Capt. John Stewart convinced me to try it, so we swam in from his boat and it was AWESOME. This next trip I'd like to return and enter from the land, hence my desire to visualize where we would park for that.

[mindehankins]

I took some photos of parking and entrance to Princess Bay in November, specifically for the purpose of posting here for this reason. I didn't move them to a host site, so I can't post right now, but I will after work.
Same thing for the beach at the end of the road past Vie's, where we entered to snorkel Pelican Rock. Caveat there was that it was posted as private - no entrance. We asked a woman lying on the beach if it would be ok to enter there, and she said "yes," so we did.
Pics this afternoon.
Any place else you're wondering about? I may have pics or could take some in a month or so...

[Lovermont]

This is not exactly what you're talking about, but we love our Trail Bandit map. http://www.trailbandit.org/maps-online/ ... hiking-map



Also, there's a new app for STJ and it's fantastic, with GPS capability showing where you are within the maps. It's basically some or all of Off the Beaten Track by Gerald Singer, in an app! http://www.seestjohnapp.com/

[Kentuckygirl]

"Also, there's a new app for STJ and it's fantastic, with GPS capability showing where you are within the maps. It's basically some or all of Off the Beaten Track by Gerald Singer, in an app! http://www.seestjohnapp.com/"

Lovermont... Thanks for sharing the app link...looks like fun!

Michigan Girls...I'm thinking you need Sherban to create the map you're looking for!

[lprof]

Michigan Girls...I'm thinking you need Sherban to create the map you're looking for!

This is Sherban's map!
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=20 ... d3c3&msa=0

[Kentuckygirl]

Michigan Girls...I'm thinking you need Sherban to create the map you're looking for!

This is Sherban's map!
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=20 ... d3c3&msa=0

I forgot he made that one! I'm always studying his villa map!

[mindehankins]

I snapped these in November when we snorkeled Princess Bay, hoping that they would help someone down the line.
You head toward Miss Vie's on the East End Rd and you can see the mangroves at Princess Bay just fine from the road. This is where we parked. You can use these signs to figure out the area.
I believe this one is looking West:

And this one is looking East (from our red Jeep):


Walk along the road looking at the mangroves, and you can easily see your entrance. This is it:

There are branches and such, to hang your hat and shoes on. You'll have to stand on or climb over some roots. The entry isn't very mucky.
I have to say, though, that it was a lousy snorkel on the day we were there. We'd been stopping daily at Crabby's to ask Doug if conditions were good to rent a kayak and paddle into hurricane hole, but there was never a good day. On our last day, we were told "no" once again, so we drove to Princess Bay and went in there. It was all stirred up and visibility was ZERO.
Mangrove snorkeling CAN be awesome, though - Pam Gaffin took us into mangroves to snorkel (not at Princess Bay) and it was so great we wanted to do it again. We got skunked and don't know if we'll try it again or not.
Hope this helps somebody!